You can read more here about how long GHB lasts and how to spot signs of GHB spiking. These substances are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose, unconsciousness, and assault. The only sure way to tell if you have been roofied is by seeking medical help and getting tested for any drugs in your system. Sometimes, a person who has been roofied may be extremely drunk. Long-term misuse can lead to dependency, with withdrawal symptoms such as severe anxiety, tremors, and seizures. Additionally, its impact on mental health can result in depression, cognitive decline, and an increased risk of self-harm.

Victims also experience disorientation, difficulty focusing and concentrating, loss of muscle control, the sensation of paralysis and a feeling of extreme drunkenness. Some people may feel nauseated, and nearly everyone who’s given these drugs experiences lapses in memory. The signs and symptoms of being roofied closely mimic those of simply having consumed too much alcohol, particularly if consumed in combination with cannabis products. This means it can be difficult to discern the difference, in some cases, between someone who’s been slipped drugs and someone who’s overindulged.

• The effects of being roofied can be dangerous and need to be addressed immediately.
• Understanding the what and how of “date rape drugs” improves your odds of avoiding it.
• This isn’t just the aftermath of a long night – it’s that killer exhaustion paired with confusion.
• This means the onset of effects on the body can appear within 20 minutes of being ingested and can last for over six hours.

How Do Roofies Work?

The symptoms of being roofied affect both your body and mind, often worsening as the drug takes effect. Understanding these symptoms can help you identify if you or someone else has been drugged. Several drugs can be used to roofie someone, and they all have similar effects that make a person vulnerable. If you’re at a bar or a club, tell the bartender or the bouncer that you think someone has been roofied.

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This depends on the amount of drug that has been slipped into their drink and the amount of alcohol they’ve been taking. In addition, some people will interact differently with the drug, so they can experience worse symptoms. Because the effects of roofies are too strong, many people can’t recall what happened except the next day or a few days after the incident. Being roofied is a slang term that refers to the situation when one is drugged against their will. It refers to the misuse of Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), but other drugs like Ketamine and GHB can also produce the same effect.

• Since the drug affects your muscles and how they respond, you might not be able to breathe well, especially in crowded places.
• This memory loss can leave you feeling vulnerable and frightened, especially if you’re unsure what happened during that time.
• As for men, one in three will have experienced a sex crime committed against them.
• Newer versions of some drink-spiking drugs (such as Rohypnol) are designed to turn drinks blue.

However, roofies are just one type of the many drug used to perpetrate sexual crimes, such as date rape. Most often, people refer to being roofied when it occurs in the form of drink spiking. If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate help and stay away from the person you think is trying to assault you. The drug that has been slipped into your drink can cause nausea, especially when you’ve been drinking. Having trouble breathing can also be a sign that you’ve been roofied. Since the drug affects your muscles and how they respond, you might not be able to breathe well, especially in crowded places.

The culture of silence around date rape drugs, Dr. Albers explains, makes this kind of crime easier to pull off. Instead, try to stay in a public place while you wait for the ambulance to arrive. If you’re with friends, alert them so they can keep an eye on you and intervene if necessary. Nobody goes out for a night on the town expecting to be drugged. Read here to find out more about how long drugs and alcohol stay in your system. Traces of Rohypnol leave the body very quickly, making it difficult to be detected in most standard drug tests.

A Choice for Meaningful Treatment with Dignity

I had my drink ‘spiked’ once while travelling as a young backpacker through Europe about ten years ago. I had decided to have a drink in my hostel’s bar rather than exploring the city of Amsterdam at night (a safe choice, I thought). The next thing I remember is the sensation of my bar stool spinning, and feeling like my mind was foggy. He was very persistent, so I told him I was going to my room to get my coat and that I would come back (with no intention of doing this).

Some side effects can be long-lasting, depending on how much of the drug you ingested and how your body reacts to it. And remember, testing isn’t always definitive—just because a tox screen comes back negative does not prove your drink wasn’t spiked. In general, students should stay aware of their surroundings and drink responsibly when going out, says BU Police Department Detective lieutenant Kelley O’Connell. Detection of Rohypnol is possible up to 60 hours after the drug is ingested. Reports linking the drug to date rape began around the same time.

What to Do If Your Drink Is Spiked

She had an almost full beer and asked me if I wanted it because she didn’t and I took it (this was my 4th beer of the night). About 20 minutes after drinking that beer, I was extremely happy and conversing and about 10 minutes later I don’t remember anything. My boyfriend thought I was just really drunk so he was scared I was going to throw up in the lyft but was very surprised at how calm I was.

Symptoms of Being Roofied

They can call emergency services or keep them in a safe place. Someone who has ingested date rape drugs may not be able to speak, walk, or function on their own. If you believe your friend (or even a stranger) has been roofied, stick by their side at all times. Don’t underestimate the power of hotlines and crisis centers either!

The consequences go beyond just the immediate effects; those who are roofied might face various challenges, such as anxiety or PTSD, which can linger long after the event. It’s essential to shed light on these experiences, as many might feel isolated or misunderstood after such an incident. You can report both on-campus and off-campus drink spiking incidents to BUPD. Off-campus incidents will be forwarded to the appropriate police department, O’Connell says. You can take your freedom back by responding on your terms, on your timeline and in your way.

That man was later charged with the intent to commit rape and drugging with the intent to commit rape. The simple act of standing up becomes challenging without help. You might feel like someone is dragging you, and you can’t stop them. You experience a lack of concentration, and you feel like you can’t control your thoughts.

By following these steps, you can provide immediate and effective assistance to someone who may have been roofied, ensuring their safety and helping them get the medical care they need. Most are sedating substances that cause retroactive amnesia. Assailants use them to incapacitate their victims and ensure they can’t make accurate police reports after the assault. Since spiking a drink aims to make the victim helpless, most drugs used to roofie cause muscle relaxation. Thus, alcohol is the most common and readily available date rape drug.

Drink-spiking drugs are dangerous by themselves and more hazardous when mixed with alcohol and/or other substances. If you believe you or someone you know has been exposed to a drink-spiking drug, seek immediate medical attention, says K. Sophia Dyer, a professor of emergency medicine at how to know if someone roofied your drink the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Although it might be tempting to just let the person sleep it off, these drugs carry serious risks. Roofies may interact badly with other drugs already in the person’s system, such as heroin and alcohol, or the dosage may have been high enough to cause an overdose. If you are experiencing symptoms of being roofied and suspect someone has slipped you an illicit drug, call 911 immediately. Don’t drive, and don’t leave the area you’re at unless you’re in danger. Try to stay around as many people as possible until help arrives, and drink as much water as you can to help flush the drug from your system.

Reaching out for help after suspecting you were roofied is crucial, but it can feel daunting. There are various ways to seek support and take care of yourself. It’s scary to think you might have been roofied, but seeking assistance can be a powerful step toward healing. Toxicology screening can be complicated for a variety of reasons. Many roofying drugs metabolize in a matter of hours, making them nearly impossible to detect if enough time has passed.